soone as men begin to liue they begin to die as soone as thy plesure is Lord to haue them they fade awaie suddenlie like the grasse which is in the morning gréene and growing and in the euening it is cut downe and withered In youth we are pleasant and merrie lustie and strong springing vp gréene as dooth the corne but when haruest commeth it ripeth and withereth and is cut downe When age commeth the body of man drieth awaie then death ouertaketh vs. All this remembred who can take anie comfort who can be merrie that remembreth the last end for we bring our yeares to an end euen as a tale that is tould Wherefore teach vs mercifull Christ to number our daies that we may applie our harts vnto wisedome Giue vs grace to haue in remembrance the short daies of our life with the dangerous passage of our time in this world so that hauing no trust or affiance in the vncertaintie thereof we may wholie applie our selues to the contemplation of thy heauenlie wisdome that we may consider earnestlie thy goodnesse shewed vnto vs who art the power and the wisdome of God thy father Behold Lord our hartie repentance for our sinnes we beséech thée turne thy mercie and louing kindnesse vnto vs be gratious to vs that are thy seruants for although we fall often times from thée through frailtie of our nature yet we forsake thée not vtterlie but return to thée as the prodigall sonne returned to his father after long absence was receiued well accepted of We are thy seruants redie to serue thée by the helpe of thy grace Heare therefore our humble petition which is to craue thy mercie and grace with the same satisfie my soule most gratious Lord for the which all thy faithfull doo sore hunger and thirst so long as they abide in this life but they shall be perfectlie and faithfullie most fullie satisfied when thy glorie shall be manifest vnto them in thy heauenlie habitation Then shall we reioise and be glad all the daies of our life With that ioifull daie comfort vs good Lord in recompense of the yeares wherein we haue suffered much aduersitie Let thy grace shine vpon vs let it euer assist vs O mercifull Iesus which art the bright light of God thy father Then shall we prosper in this world and after follow thée the lambe wheresoeuer thou goest which grant for thy mercie sake To thée with the Father and the holie Ghost be praise and glorie now and for euer Amen 29. A praier vnto the holie Ghost wherein his glorie is confessed O Holie Ghost thou art my strength power and refuge in time of my trouble thou diddest helpe me in my youth when I had more strength helpe me now good Lord so much the more in my old age and weakenes for the depth of thy prouidence gouerneth all things Thou art the Lord of life whose throne is most excellent with God the Father and the Sonne which dwellest in the place of our holie rest Thou art the comfort of thine elect and the seuenfold disposer of the works of God All they that forsake thée shall be confounded and they that depart from thée shall be written in earth bicause they haue forsaken the Lord of life Turne ye therefore all ye sinners and doo righteousnes before God and be ye sure that his holie spirit will not depart from you For he did not refuse the praier of Abraham when he was entreated for the wicked Sodomites if there could haue béene found ten righteous in the citie how much more wilt thou grant the praiers of the godlie when they call vpon thée either for themselues or for the preseruation of thy church Wherefore bicause thou art iust O Lord lead me out of the danger of mine enimies for vnto thée doo I make my praier O thou most high possesser of heauen and earth Be not terrible vnto me O Lord for thou art God my comforter in whom I hope when I am in perill O thou finger of GOD touch my heart and vnlose the same from all worldlie vanitie Inspire me with thy grace that I may confesse the father and the sonne with thée O holie Ghost to be one GOD in persons thrée and euerlasting in vnitie who guidest and gouernest the world through thy omnipotencie whose mercies be praised for all thy benefits in the world of worlds now and for euermore Amen 30. A praier in the remembrance of death wherein the vanitie of riches is touched and the reuelation and reward of mens works is promised MAke vs O Lord to remember our end wherevnto all men by nature must come then shall we neuer doo amisse Instruct our harts in thy godlie wisedome that we may applie our time according to thy holie worde and will Defend vs from the snares of our wicked enimie the diuell Let vs not be intangled with the wicked mammon of this detestable world nor boast our selues in the multitude of our riches for they and we shall fade and fall awaie as the fresh flower that kéepeth his colour and swéet sauour for a short space but the heate of the sunne maketh it wither his beautie to perish and his flower to fall awaie Euen so shall it be with all such as put their trust in their riches they shall perish togither with their aboundance their goods maie serue them here for a short space but no man can with monie win his brother from death or make agréement vnto God for him for it cost more to redéeme their soules so that they must let that alone foreuer Onelie thy sonne Iesus Christ was our redemption which price if it well not serue the wicked for that they end in sinne our sauiour will not paie for them a second death to redéeme them withall but leue them to be tormented for euer Wherefore giue vs grace Lord that we may laie vp our riches in the hands of Christ the sure tresure house that is in the hands of the poore that we may be sure to find it againe with greater gaine when we depart out of this wretched world so shall we lay vp temporall things and receiue againe eternall For if we will be rich in good works and readie to giue and to distribute we shall laie vp for vs a good foundation against the time to come contrariewise the wicked which are now here in great glorie whose dwelling is in the night their works are hid and appéere not but at the great iudgement when Christ which is our life shall shew himselfe then shall the iust appéere with him also in glorie then shall it be cléere day-light all mens works shall appéere as they be The trée that in the winter sheweth no freshnesse shall then receiue sap from the root appéere beautifull where the flower and herbe that was in sight pleasant for a while shall wither awaie and fall Then shal the strength of the wicked consume hell shall be their dwelling in perpetuall moorning Thus wilt
be diminished For thou art so mercifull that a sinner can no sooner humble himselfe but thou receiuest him to mercie waiting as it were with patience to call him to repentance Wherefore we crie now vnto thy maiestie from the depth of our hearts most humblie beséeching thée to put all our wickednes out of thy remembrance and giue vs grace to put our onelie trust in thée from whom we looke for our deliuerance who shalt change our bodies and make them like to the most glorious bodie of thy sonne Iesus Christ to whom with thée the holie Ghost be giuen all praise honour and glorie now and for euer more Amen 39. A praier of lamentation wherein the sinner lamenteth his miserable estate and crieth for mercie MY God when I do earnestlie behold mine owne state wherevnto I am brought through sinne not onlie being naked and bare of all goodnes but also to be ouerwhelmed in the depth of all iniquitie I cannot but lament moorne and crie for helpe as dooth a woman whose time draweth néere to be deliuered of hir child for she can take no rest till she be discharged of hir burthen No more can I Lord as long as I féele my selfe loden with my heauie burthen of sinne the weight wherof draweth me downe to the déepe bottome of all miserie from whence I can by none be deliuered but onelie by thée that art the guide and the eie to those that are blind through ignorance the succor of the oppressed the comfort of the weake the life of those that are dead so that they repent and turne vnto thée It is not the long distance of vs from thy highnesse which kéepeth our praiers from thée thine eares are readie in the hearts of all that are willing to crie for the help of thy grace Who so is made farre from thée through sinne by repentance is made néere vnto thée He that is in the bottom of the sea of miserie if he beginne to call for thy helpe he shall not be suffered to sinke From all déepe dangers most mercifull God deliuer me I crie and call pitiouslie vnto thée which art onelie able to helpe me Heare therefore I most hartilie praie thée my sorowfull praier and let my poore petition pearse the eares of thy Godhed And since thy sonne Christ died for to release vs of sinne let not my sinnes be a staie whereby my praiers should not be heard but wipe them cleane awaie that they neuer more appéere For I miserable sinner doo flie to the gentlenes of thy fauourable mercie whose nature and propertie is to haue pitie compassion From thée floweth all mercie and grace which was so great vnto vs that it mooued thée to send thine onlie Sonne to die for our redemption whereby thy iustice was satisfied and thy mercie found that it sought O how feruent was this thy noble charitie to vs vile wretches It tooke root beginning in thy mightie deitie from thence it was deriued to mankind being an example that we thy christian people should like louing brethren beare one anothers burthen Wherefore I am most willinglie contented to remit all iniuries doon to me as it hath pleased thy goodnes to forgiue me much greater offenses committed against thée And whensoeuer it shall please thée to scourge and punish me I will gladlie receiue thy chastisement for that I knowe it procéedeth of loue for my wealth and suretie trusting that after my long abiding suffering in this life I shall surelie obteine thy reward by thy promise that is If we suffer with Christ we shall also reigne with him Such sure hope haue I euer had in thée Lord and by the same hope I trust to haue thy fauour and liue for euer For blessed are they that trust in thée most mercifull Father and cursed are they that trust in man Of thy grace and mercie onelie commeth all goodnes thy mercie forgiueth onelie our sinnes dailie and hourelie the painfull death of thy sonne Christ deliuereth vs from all the paines due for our sinnes Thou boughtest vs not with gold and siluer but with the pretious bloud of that lambe without spot thy blessed Sonne whose death had béene sufficient for thousands of worlds The greatnes of thy loue caused the plentifull paiment of the price of our redemption The charitie of our Lord Iesus Christ hath burnt vp and consumed by his death all our iniquities Wherefore the faithfull being thus deliuered from all dangers by thine onlie goodnesse may now giue thanks vnto thy mightie Maiestie resting in hope to haue after this life euerlasting ioie and felicitie thorough Iesus Christ our mercifull Lord and redéemer to whom with thée O deare Father the holie Ghost be giuen all honor glorie and praise now and for euer Amen 40. A praier wherein the fatherlie loue and preseruation of God is set foorth and a request that we may continue faithfull and constant vnto the end GRant vs O Lord that we may constantlie beléeue in thée that being certified by thy iustice taught by thy wisedome gouerned by thy power we may stedfastlie perseuere euen vnto the end in hope of that ioie that is set before our eies framing our liues continuallie in christian exercises that we may shew our selues thankful to thée our God with dutifulnesse to our neighbour For thy iudgements appéere manifest in this world against those that suppresse thy word and persecute thy seruants For thou dooest disappoint the lot and expectation of the wicked turning their ioie into sorrowe and the teares of the godlie into gladnesse dwelling in the harts of thy faithfull by thy holie spirit who are called thy glorie bicause thy image and the token of thy grace shineth in them Thou art a light to comfort thy people and a fire to consume thine enimies Thou art he O Christ that touchest the harts of all thy seruants mortifieng their concupiscence but to the wicked thou art the sauour of death Wherefore the faithfull desire of thée to be deliuered that thou by them maist be glorified for thou hast promised to be true and iust vnto all that trust in thée Wherefore we will take thée for our defense against all our enimies what danger soeuer we fall into Thy word giueth life vnto man causing him to sée and trie the secrets of his darke heart For thou shewest thy selfe most liberall to thine when they séeme to be most destitute kéeping them vnder thy protection that they may be safe against all dangers and frée from the cruelties of their enimies For as to the elect all things turne to their profit so to the reprobate euen those things that are good turne to their damnation As for me I will neuer boast of mine owne vertues O God but confesse that thou of thy frée goodnes hast euer bin mercifull vnto me and giuen me power against mine enimies as to one of thine household Wherefore grant me alwaies to make my praier vnto thée from the fountaine of my
in his voiage Lot from sinking among the sinfull Sodomites Ioseph from the danger of his wicked ladie and mistres the Israelites from the bondage of Pharao Daniel from the lions Ionas from drowning being thrée daies thrée nights in the whales bellie the thrée yoong men from burning that were put into the flaming fornace with manie thousands more whom of thy naturall accustomed mercie and goodnesse thou dooest preserue and euer wilt doo all those that it pleaseth thée to drawe vnto thée thorough grace I most miserable and wretched sinner doo now call vpon thée for mercie and grace acknowledging my selfe gréeuouslie to haue offended the eies of thy deitie so manie waies that I am not worthie to beare the name of a christian the burthen of mine offenses is so great Wherefore discharge me of them Lord according to thine infinit mercie For small sinnes thy small mercie sufficeth but my great sinnes require thy great mercie And as my offenses are manie in number so is there of thy mercies a great multitude yea they cannot be numbred But of one thing I am sure that it lieth not in mans power so much to offend as it is in thy mercifull power to forgiue My woonds cannot be so great and noisome but thy medicines are most pretious and healthsome wherefore heale thou me and I shall be whole from my sinnes The children of Israell might not come into thy sight being once defiled with anie vncleannesse till they were sanctified and the priests also durst not come to thy presence till they were washed for feare least they should perish how much more néed I then to desire thée Lord to wash my vncleane soule For my soule hath néed of manie dews of thy grace and manie secret drawings to thée with spirituall violence or euer it can be made cleane The leprosie of Naaman of Syria could not be clensed till he had washed himselfe seauen times in the riuer of Iordan how manie waters haue I néed to be washed with or I be purged from my vncleannesse But thy mercie O Lord is as great as thy selfe Thy grace maketh a stonie heart to be a fleshie heart in a sturdie stomach it bréedeth an humble spirit of a fierse lion it maketh a méeke lambe Whie should I then despaire of thy goodnes considering that thy iustice willeth me to trust in thée Thy promise is to haue mercie on all those that be penitent for their offenses so that thou wilt no more remember them This promise no doubt shall stand fast and sure when both heauen and earth shall passe awaie Wherefore I offer now to thy maiesty a hart contrite being sorie for the wickednes by it conceiued with a bodie subiect to thée with all humilitie and sorowfull for all the sinnes by it committed I acknowledge my faults and my sinnes is euer before me I punish my selfe with contrition bicause thou Lord shouldst giue me grace and remission I haue it euer in remembrance and set it vp in my sight bicause thou shouldst forget it and put it out of thy sight Consider Lord I praie thée the fraile metall whereof I am made receiue me thy poore creature into thy fauour for before thée I accuse my selfe to the intent thou shouldest shew mercie as thou hast promised who hast euer béene found iust in all thy saiengs I haue long straied from thée yet now am returned to thée with all my whole heart Make me therefore vpright and so to aspire to heauenlie things that neither aduersitie nor worldlie pleasure plucke it downeward Cast awaie my sinnes behind thée but cast not me from thy mercifull countenance as thou diddest king Saule for disobedience For if I loose thy gratious presence I am then sure thou wilt also take from me thy holie spirit as thou diddest from Saule O how gratious and swéet is thy spirit in all things it passeth all other swéetenes it leadeth those that loue thée into the land of righteousnes This thy holie spirit I desire may remaine still with me to teach me all veritie to confirme me in goodnes to make intercession for me vnto thée in all my necessities and infirmities Giue me therefore againe the comfort of thy helpe and stablish me with thy principall spirit For thou onelie art mightie faithfull and constant and neuer failest them that call vpon thée in faith and truth Wherefore I offer vnto thée the sacrifice of praise and thankesgiuing for all thy mercies and benefits putting my whole trust in thée who hast neuer failed me for which cause I am bound to praise thée now and for euermore Amen 46. A praier of the maiestie of God and of his bountifull liberalitie towards mankind O Lord thou art my GOD and my King my hope and my comfort who hast by so great prouidence created and ordained all thy creatures that the beautie excellencie of them declare thy mightie magnificence to vs all which are thy reasonable creatures The power of thy maiestie to vs knowne before is by the contemplation of them made manifest causing vs to praise and magnifie thée with all our powers We acknowledge thy power thy wisedome thy honour also and thy great glorie wherewith thou art garnished Thou art the euerlasting light and thy wisedome is the brightnesse thereof which shall neuer be quenched Thou art compassed about with bright angels and with thy saints shining in clearenesse whose inheritance is to enioie light As for vs thy poore creatures on earth great cause haue we to praise thée world without end bicause thou hast so mercifullie declared thy great goodnes to mankind in this world to his most comfort that could be deuised giuing vnto vs all things to doo vs seruice All beasts thou madest subiect for his vse which to nourish and to féed thou causest the ground naturallie to bring foorth grasse and all kind of hearbes replenishing the earth with all kind of fruit to the comfort of mans heart But aboue all things Lord féed vs with thy holie word whereby our soules are made strong and comforted For in a miserable case doo they liue from whom thou takest awaie thy holie word which is the true bread which came downe from heauen which whosoeuer eateth of shall liue for euer Lord neuer take the same awaie from vs againe but euermore féed vs with this bread Thy word maketh our enimies afraid they haue no further power to hurt thy faithfull than thou permittest them Wherefore although the wicked swell neuer so high yet we feare them not they may inuade thy church and manie of the elect members of the same but they shall neuer haue power to destroie them For thou Lord hast promised to abide with thy faithfull vnto the end of the world thy grace will not leaue them that loue and serue thée Send vs good Lord this grace that we may feruentlie imbrace the spirituall food of our soules that it may cause vs to forget our wanton and idle liues that we haue hitherto
beare the name of a christian for that through mine own sin I haue defaced the beautie of the principall part of man which is my soule made to thy godlie image Neuerthelesse since thou art the reformer of all our harts and the inspiror of all grace and goodnesse I most humblie beséech thée to correct by thy power that which through my frailtie is amisse Redres by thy pitie that which I haue mard through my follie make me able to yéeld vnto thée that which thou requirest of me acknowledging mine owne vnworthines and to render vnto thée noble praises and louing thanks for thy manifold gifts of grace wherby thou hast of thy méere liberalitie indued both my soule and bodie Make me worthie to laud thée which I cannot doo vnlesse thou giue me grace to wipe awaie all mine iniquities For thy praises be not séemelie in the mouth of a sinner Yea Lord I praie thée inflame my hart with the loue of thée so that from the bottome thereof I may speake them and not to loue anie thing in this world but thée for thée Thou art the true God and sauiour and there is none but thou O Lord. Out of thy mouth commeth the word of righteousnes which no man may turne Wherefore all other gods set I asside to thée onelie will I sing praises and confesse thée onelie to be the liuing GOD which I will acknowledge before the whole congregation of the faithfull Thou knowest the inward intent of the heart for in the hearts of the beléeuing is thy seate and resting place The soules of the iust are the temples wherein thou dooest inhabit To this temple good Lord will I turne my selfe by pondering the state of mine owne soule for strength whereof I call most humblie vnto thée most mercifull God that I may be able to vanquish the illusions of the subtill serpent Performe in me that which thou hast promised for all thy waies are mercie and truth Thy mercie reacheth vnto the heauens and thy faithfulnesse vnto the clouds thy righteousnes stands like the strong mountaine When thy goodnes is considered all the rulers of the earth must néeds confes that great is thy might and thy glorie Neuerthelesse although thou dwellest aboue the heauens yet hast thou a louing respect vnto the lowlie and méeke of spirit and dooest behold them as one looketh on his friend if they trust in thée Thou drawest néere vnto them that séeke thée to heare their praiers yea thou art their shéeld and protection in all their necessities as for the proud workers of iniquitie thou séest them a far off thou beholdest them with a fearse looke to their confusion to destroie and roote out their memoriall out of the euerlasting beatitude Who so therfore will haue thy maiestie come néere vnto him must plucke downe his mind and become lowe in heart For the méeke humble people be those that shall enioie the heuenlie countrie And though they walke in the middest of trouble yet shalt thou refresh and quicken them This world is a place ordeined for trouble and not for rest Here we are appointed to trauell in this place is no want of tribulation but thou euer gratiouslie comfortest the faithfull thou sufferest them not to be ouercome in any tribulation for through thée they vanquish all their enimies Wherefore Lord powre out thy mercies I beséech thée vpon thy flocke deliuer vs from all our enimies spirituall and temporall let thy right hand saue vs and lead vs through thy grace into eternall felicitie As for riches ease honor or any kind of temporall pleasure which be thy gifts also but of thy left hand we nothing estéeme Manie times thou bestowest these benefits vpon thine enimies the other thou reseruest for thine elect to receiue after manie tribulations And the same Lord I humblie beséech thée to kéepe in store for me thy poore seruant Regard not the wickednes which I dailie commit but looke vpon the merits of thy son Iesus Christ my God and my sauiour for it is he that hath paied my debt and thou Lord hast sealed the acquitance grant me to honour thée therefore as I ought to doo now and for euer Amen Amen 49. A praier wherein is shewed that God is alwaies our protection if we trust in his sonne Iesus Christ O Lord thou art my God I will praise thée and magnifie thy name and thy word aboue all things Thou bringest maruelous things to passe according to thy will and pleasure Thou art the poore mans helpe a strength for the néedfull in the time of trouble defending them against all weathers and their shadowe in the time of heate Likewise to the presumptuous thou art like a strong whirle wind that casteth downe the boasting of the vngodlie bicause they know not thée to be the euerlasting strength but the righteous Lord haue a respect vnto the waie of thy iudgements and thy name and remembrance reioiseth their hearts As for my soule it thirsteth after thée both daie and night and my mind hasteth fréelie vnto thée bicause thou art so mercifull vnto all them that séeke thée in singlenesse of heart for thou wilt be found of them that thirst after thée Thou art the well of pleasant waters whorewith whosoeuer is filled they shall neuer be a thirst for thou O lambe of GOD that dwellest in the middest of the throne wilt lead thine vnto the founteine of liuing waters and giue them euerlasting rest bicause that in this world they made themselues white in thy blood bearing thy crosses with willing minds and confessed thée before men on earth For this cause wilt thou acknowledge them before God thy father in heauen where they shall praise thée and him world without end O God most holie I acknowledge that I am none of those that haue deserued halfe such mercie at thy hands but I hope through the mercies and merits of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ my Lord and sauiour to be made as perfect before thée O heauenlie father as if I had neuer sinned For thus I stedfastlie beléeue if I come vnto him he will not refuse me and if I praie heartilie desiring his helpe he will heare me and cloath me with his righteousnes and take from me all the sinnes that euer I haue committed from my birth vntill this present houre as he hath promised in his holie word Come Lord Iesus for thou art true and iust in all thy waies and wash me with thy most pretious blood Sanctifie me with thy bitter passion pretious death and glorious resurrection Restore me to those ioies that thine elect doo find in thée powre thy holie spirit into my heart that he may draw my mind continuallie vnto thée for thou art the waie the truth and the life Blessed are they that trust in thée and with a stedfast faith make thée their onelie staie and refuge they shall be sure of all happinesse in this world and when it shall please thée to call them hence they shall enioie with thée the crowne of glorie who hast all power giuen thée both in heauen and earth for the father iudgeth no man but hath committed all vnto thée who art the verie wisedome of God Wherfore Lord Iesu make me blessed with thée like as thou art blessed for I commit my selfe both bodie and soule into thy mercifull hands who hast redéemed me O thou God of truth Thou O Lord art worthie to receiue all glorie and honour and might for thou hast created all things and for thy willes sake they were and are created O most noble creator of light shine into my hart that it may cléerlie sée the excellencie of thy maiestie and quicken my soule and spirit that they may continuallie be stirred to honour and glorifie thée as thou art worthie which by thy grace I shall not cease to do with hart soule mind and strength among thy faithfull congregation which of thy mercie Lord preserue and kéepe that we may praise thée one God in persons thrée and euerlasting in vnitie world without end Amen FINIS 1584 H D OS HOMINI SVBLIME DEDIT Imprinted at London by Henrie Denham dwelling in Pater noster Rowe at the signe of the Starre Cum priuilegio
thou O God hast care ouer thine and dooest chasten them for their health that they should not perish for euer with the wicked For thou wilt restore the gouernement of good things to their vse and then the godlie shall follow thée chéerefullie Grant vs we humblie beséech thée to know thy waies and to ascend vp vnto the throne of thy maiestie by faith giuing thée praise and glorie for thy fatherlie preseruation and health towards vs continuallie For thou hast béene a house and defense for vs thou hast chosen vs to be thy people before the foundation of the earth was laid Wherefore we are sure that thou wilt heare vs whensoeuer we call and crie vnto thée for mercie and grace Blesse vs now and euer with all goodnes that we may lead our liues according to thy will liuing in thy feare all the daies of our life that after this course is ended we may dwell with thée world without end Amen 7. Another for the same I Make my humble petition in thy sight O GOD most holie which biddest vs aske and it shall be giuen séeke and we shall find knocke and it shall be opened vnto vs and beléeue onelie and we shall receiue whatsoeuer we desire Lord I beléeue helpe thou mine vnbeléefe and giue me that faith which shal be most acceptable in thy sight Sowe in my heart good Lord the graine of stedfast faith which may aspire and spring vp vnto the mercie seat of thine almightie maiestie for without true faith and obedience we cannot call vpon thée a right Giue me therefore good Lord that most pretious iewel of faith that thou maist thereby heare me And giue me comfort saluation through thy mercifull goodnesse O God who neuer dooest forsake thy faithfull seruants that come to thée in humblenesse of heart looking vpon Iesus Christ thy deare sonne our Lord and Sauiour for he is the trée of life which standeth in the middest of paradise by whom we haue entrance vnto thée O déere father Whosoeuer séeketh anie other waie than this thy déere Sonne he is a théefe and a robber and shall neuer be partaker of the benefits which he of his mercie hath most louinglie bestowed vpon vs which grant me Lord Iesu neuer to forget but euermore to shew my selfe thankefull For it is thou O Lord that art worthie to receiue all glorie honour and praise for thou hast created and redéemed all and without thée we cannot doo anie thing that is good Wherefore Lord Iesus I come vnto thée crauing at thy mercifull hand an humble and contrite heart a patient mind a quiet conscience the gift of faith and of the holie Ghost O thou louer of soules heare me poore wretch although vnworthie once to thinke much lesse to speake vnto thy maiestie But thou art the same Lord who dooest most louinglie saie Come to me all ye that are heauie loden and I will ease you Which comfortable saieng of thine O Christ maketh me bold to come into thy presence vnloding my sinfull sacke of corruption before the face of thine almightie power not doubting but thou wilt mercifullie heare me and ease me with thy helpe for I cast all my burthen on thée who art the giuer of life and saluation Wherefore I turne my selfe vnto thée O Lord Iesus Christ desiring thée by praier to renue whatsoeuer is amisse in me either by mine owne frailtie or malice of the diuell For I acknowledge O Lord that I am the most wicked the most fraile of all others the weakest to resist my ghostlie enimie But I trust through thy mercie to be of the number of them for whom thou hast ouercome the diuell and the world which grant me Lord Iesus for thy bitter passions sake that after this life I may enioie the endles blisse and glorie of heauen To thée with the liuing Father and the holie Ghost be giuen all honour and glorie all praise and thanks for euer and euer Amen Amen 8. A praier of the iustice of God and of his mercie O GOD almightie Lord of heauen and earth from whom nothing can be hid or kept secret thou art the searcher of the hart and reines which knowest the thoughts of all men when I remember thy iust iudgment I tremble and quake for feare considering the burthen wait and filthines of sinne to be so great that for one proud thought a great number of angels fell from heauen The earth was not able to beare the burthen of Corah Dathan and Abiram but for the rebellion against thée and thy seruant Moses the earth opened and swallowed them quicke For the sinne and pride of Dauid who mustered his men putting his trust in the multitude of them rather than in thée that art the liuing God thou scourgedst him with the plague of pestilence so that there died foure score thousand of his people within the space of thrée daies Who would not then feare séeing we sinne dailie with most gréeuous sinnes Now haue we no remedie to flie from thy wrath but to shrowd our selues in the bosome of thy most dearelie beloued sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ making him our bulworke and house of defense betwéene thine anger and vs most humblie beséeching thée for his sake and for the bitter paines that he suffered for our redemption to be mercifull vnto vs and rebuke vs not in thine anger Let not the sentence of euerlasting death take place which thou gauest against Adam and all his posteritie for his disobedience Thou art méeke gentle and long suffering of thy selfe It is our gréeuous offenses heaped one vpon another that prouoke thée vnto anger Therefore acknowledging our offenses we praie thée most mercifull father to haue compassion vpon vs for we are not able of our selues to arise it is thou Lord and thy blessed sonne that must heale our infirmities We haue no strength to withstand the temptation of our enimies thy sonne Christ must reach vs his hand as he did to Peter walking on the water when he was in perill of drowning His patience is our medicine and health thy grace and his are sufficient remedies We are all carnall sold vnder sinne so that the good we would doo that doo we not but the euill that we wold not that we doo We are all euill of our selues Consider O God our contrite hearts and penitent minds and heare heale and amend vs. Hope biddeth vs still to crie and call vpon thée for helpe as the woman of Canaan cried still vpon thy sonne Christ for the helpe of hir daughter and at the last was heard to hir owne contentation so we knocking and calling still doubt not but thou wilt grant through our importunacie our desires as he that granted his neighbour thrée loaues We doo now knocke crie and will neuer cease till thou Lord turne towards vs and deliuer our soules Turne we heartilie beséech thée from thy wrath to pittie and mercie deliuer vs from the manifold troubles which we haue in our
all prosperitie and thine anger of all aduersitie For thy care is so much ouer thine that thou wilt cause their verie enimies to preserue them It lieth in thy mightie power to gouerne the hearts of all thou O God preferrest and preseruest them which are zealous of thy glorie and haue a care and loue towards their brethren as for them that forget thée in prosperitie who art the giuer of all good things they procure to themselues vtter perdition For thou dost cast them behind thy backe but thy louing countenance dooth comfort the troubled that patientlie wait on thée constantlie putting their trust in thy mercie In this world is continuall trouble and disquietnes in heauen is perpetuall rest Yet manie there be who loue this world that could content themselues for lacke of faith that are loth to loose things certein for things vncertaine But thy faithfull know throgh faith that when in this world the daie passeth awaie then commeth the night darknes but in heauen all is there but one daie eternall a life euerlasting which endureth for euer which the soule of the righteous shall enioie through thy mercies O GOD bicause in this world they walked before thée of which number make me one for his sake that died for me to whom with the Father and the holie Ghost be giuen all honour and praise world without end Amen 11. A praier wherein the bountifulnes of God is confessed and praised O God eternall the giuer of all felicitie whose loue is like the euening and morning raine vpon the earth whose mercies cannot be numbered whose wisdome and diuine prouidence is such that it reacheth from one end of the earth vnto an other most mightilie and louinglie dooest thou order all things Thy bountifulnesse Lord to all mankind is so manfest that no reasonable creature can saie but that he hath tasted thereof for what good thing hath man that he hath not receiued of thee Thou art good to all men but speciallie to those that haue an vpright conscience and straight heart a mind not bowing downe to carnall and temporall things but aspiring vnto heauenlie and eternall things for it is not enough O God almightie to praise thée with mouth except our whole hart agrée therevnto framing our life vnto the same for whosoeuer dooth otherwise than thou hast commanded dooth pollute thy name Wherefore giue vs grace to feare thée and to obeie thy holie word Giue vs also a mind to praise thée for thy benefits past that thereby our minds may be strengthened against all perils When I haue grace O Lord to take thée for my defense trust I shall perceiue thy protection to be a most sure safegard vnto me For though I haue not altogither hither to known thy Maiestie as I ought to doo yet I most humblie thanke thée Lord that I went not from thée but did cleaue fast to thée by faith Though I had almost slipped and fallen from thée yet I did not forsake thée And thou full mercifullie knowing my good will towards thée didst hold me vp by my right hand as thou didst Peter when he was in iopardie of drowning thy goodnesse brought me to the knowledge of mine infirmitie thy grace called me from mine error into the right waie thou sauest me as thou didst Lot and his house thou didst lead me with thy counsel preseruing my weakenesse in this present life Wherefore my trust is that thou wilt not take thy spirit from me but wilt receiue me into glorie for thy fauor hath béen my guide Thy grace dooth direct me in all my dooings by which I am that I am and thy grace held me still through faith Wherefore my trust is that thou wilt not leaue me but bring me to thine euerlasting rest What wretched foole therefore was I to desire of thée temporall fraile and deceitfull prosperitie and pleasure knowing by faith that thou hast prepared for me and for all faithfull that loue thée such rewards as neither eie hath séene eare hath heard nor hart can imagine What is ther then that is ordained for me Euen thou thy selfe Lord and the fruition of thy perfect Godhead wherein is included all the ioie that may be deuised a treasure that is immortall it indureth pleasant for euer Shall I then be so mad to desire of thée most mercifull God worldlie honor pleasure ease or riches more than is requisite for this present life Should I desire of thée that louest me those gifts wherewith thou rewardest thine enimies The most wicked vpon the earth haue these trifles of thy great goodnes and liberalitie but there is nothing vpon the earth that I desire saue onelie thée The swéetnes of thy goodnes hath made all euill to cease in me for thou Lord art becom the strength of my hart thou art my portion for euer thou art my reward thine owne selfe wherwith my hart is sufficed For thou art the verie life it selfe in whom whosoeuer beléeueth shall liue euerlastinglie and shall not come into damnation Wherefore it is good for me to hold me fast by thée to draw néere vnto thée by faith from whence good works doo spring towards my neighbour and then to put my hope and trust wholie in thée as in a sure and vnmooueable altar from whence no blast of winds of temptation shall driue me Through hope I trust to be deliuered from a corruptible bodie into thy heauenlie glorie and this by patience I now abide and looke for Wherefore whilest I liue I will not cease to declare and set foorth all thy noble works which thou hast wrought to thine honor and praise and to the profit of them that shall professe the same Christs religion while the world indureth As for me I haue none other refuge but thée in whom my conscience dooth rest for thou O God hast humbled me by affliction that I should crie vnto thée and receiue the fruit of thy promise which grant O father sonne and holie ghost to me and all thy church to aspire vnto Amen 12. A praier for grace and repentance O Lord God we are ashamed dare not lift vp our eies vnto thée our God for our wickednesse is gone ouer our head and our trespasses are waxen so great that they reach vp vnto the heauens Since the time of our fathers we haue sinned trespassed against thée euen vnto this daie and now our God what shall we saie Continuallie doo we forsake thy commandements and harden our harts in misbeléefe but thou O God open our eies to behold thée with a stedfast faith the eares of our harts to heare thy words and to vnderstand them that we may know thée the onlie true God and Iesus Christ whome thou hast sent for whose sake heare vs O déere Father and send thy holie Ghost to confirme this faith in vs euermore To whom with thée O Father thy son our onlie sauiour be all honor and glorie power and dominion now and for euer Amen
13. A praier wherein wee desire the life to come O Most high mightie prince of power Lorde of hosts GOD and Lord of the heauenly armie of angels that are thy ministers when I consider the greatnes of thy mightie Maiestie I am so rapt with the desire thereof that my hart and my flesh reioiceth in nothing but in thée alone that art the liuing God All earthlie tabernacles and worldlie goods I nothing estéeme when I behold thine euerlasting felicitie which although I sée now but darkelie as in a glasse I hope to sée thée face to face Grant me therfore O Lord whilest I am in this tabernacle to build vpon faith which is the altar of thée that art the Lord most mightie my King and my God vpon which we giue vnto thée sacrifice laud and praise in the vnitie of thy faithfull Church whereof thy Sonne Christ is the sure rock The faithfull build on this foundation Blessed are they Lord therefore that dwell in thy house who haue occasion to praise thée They are replenished with aboundance of all things that they desire they are made like vnto thée they sée thée euen as thou art of which sight they shall neuer be fullie satisfied such ioie and loue shall they conceiue of the sight of thy glorious maiestie But to this beatitude can we not atteine mercifull God of our owne strength and power but through the helpe of thy gratious assistance Thou must ingraue in our harts thy lawes and direct vs in thy waies and when we are brought to thée by the right waie we must be continuallie aided by thy grace that thou maiest staie and kéepe our féet from slipping Who so trusteth to his owne strength or power or to the helpe of man is much deceiued and leaneth to a rotten staffe contrariwise he that putteth his trust in thy gratious power wanteth neuer succour at néed Thou hast put vs into this present world to fight and to striue with our enimies who doo continuallie assault vs but thy grace maketh vs able to repell all their inuasions Thou sufferest vs not to be tempted aboue our strength and for our triumph thou rewardest vs with a crowne of glorie and immortalitie The vngodlie fall from thée descending downeward from one vice to an other but thy faithfull and elect increase dailie in godlines For of thée Lord commeth all our power and strength to doo good and of thy sonne Christ Iesus our maister our teacher and gouernour who promiseth that if we wéepe and morne heare in this vale of miserie for our sinnes we shall hereafter laugh and be ioifull in eternall glorie If we sowe with heauines we shall reape with gladnes if we perseuere good strong champions héere in batell we shall for our reward behold thy glorious face in thy heauenlie mansion we shall sée also thy sonne Christ who is thy wisedome and thy power which who so séeth enioieth all pleasures to sée that delectable sight our hearts doo much desire of thée that art the Lord of hosts For this we make humble petition to thée that art the GOD of Iacob who wrestled with thine angel and preuailed whose name thou diddest change and calledst him Israel that is the feare or beholder of God Euen so make me a strong wrestler against mine enimies in this world that I may after this life behold thy incomprehensible deitie to the full contentation both of my soule and bodie We are much vnworthie to obteine anie thing of thée considering our vnkindnes shewed vnto thée and our wretched estate wherein we remaine Neuerthelesse Lord we praie thée to be our defender and protector through thy grace not for our merits but for the merits of thy most entirelie beloued sonne Christ thine onelie annointed aboue all other with the oile of ioie and gladnes He is our head we are the members of his bodie he dwelleth in his faithfull and they in him Who so receiueth anie of his elect receiueth him He was incarnate for vs suffered death for vs bare our iniquities on his backe and rose againe for our iustification Wherefore we doubt not but that through the infusion of thy grace thou wilt looke vpon him in vs and shewe vs mercie for his sake that we may haue aboundance of grace through him and casting all the vanities of this world behind our backes we may enter into the court of thy bright heauenlie Ierusalem where one daies abiding is better than a thousand in this wretched world Iohn Baptist as witnesseth our Sauiour was the greatest and most perfect vpon earth yet said he the least in the kingdome of heauen is greater than he Wherefore most mightie Lord thy faithfull doubt not whilst they are here in this vale of miserie but that thou wilt euer assist them guide them and blesse them that put their whole trust in thée who art the liuing God and giuest to thine aboundantlie all things necessarie to this present life and afterwards the fruition of thy Godhead in heauen eternallie there to dwell with thée euerlastinglie Amen 14. A praier for comfort in trouble THe chiefest comfort that I receiue in this miserable wretched troublesome world O heauenlie Father and God almightie is when I call to mind the truth of thy great promises made to me in Iesus Christ for whose sake onelie I doo acknowledge and confesse that thou art my mercifull and louing Father and so carest for me through him that nothing is able to remooue thy grace and fauour from me Wherefore I come vnto thée in humblenes of hart crauing at thy bountifull hands the assistance of thy holie spirit to suppresse my wicked affections that I may with a stedfast faith obeie thy most diuine Maiestie in thought word and déed For thou disposest all things most wiselie and preseruest thy children in their greatest dangers Wherefore thy holie name be praised now and for euermore through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen 15. A praier for the prosperitie of the Church O Most holie glorious and blessed trinitie thrée persons in one Godhead by whose goodnesse all creatures haue their being whose eies behold althings as well that are past as that are to come and are accoumpted as present to thy mightie Maiestie we thy poore faithful subiects of the Church here militant vpon earth shew foorth our lamentable praiers beséeching thée pitifullie to behold the miserable estate thereof which neuer had more néed of thy godlie assistance than at this present it hath The nature of man is so corrupt and abhominable in wickednesse that none dooth good vpon the earth for many there be that despise God oppresse the poore Wherefore Lord we beséech thée to arise vp for the trouble sake of the oppressed and at the complaint of the poore helpe him and set him at rest Thy Sonne Christ is our sauing health in whom who so trusteth resteth in suertie and cannot be deceiued Arise vp we praie thée mercifull God and cast vs not away
conuersion but after long forbearing thou strikest verie sore throwing both bodie and soule into the pit of hell hauing such measure of punishment as they gaine in this world For as thy mercies is vnmeasureable so is thy iustice vnremooueable to those that depart this world in their wickednesse Make me O Lord God of the number of those that be thy faithfull children let me not wauer nor fall from my hope but put on me the shield of faith that I may stronglie fight against my ghostlie enimie Grant me to vanquish and ouercome him that after triumphant victorie I may liue and reigne with thée O Father Sonne and holie Ghost thrée persons and one true and euerlasting GOD through the merits death of thy Sonne my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to the which most glorious Trinitie be giuen all honor glorie and praise now and for euer Amen 33. A praier to be said at all times wherein our frailties are confessed and request made to haue them redressed BLessed art thou O GOD of our fathers and blessed is thy holie name which is most glorious for euer Let the heauens blesse thée and all thy creatures thou art the Lord strong and mercifull gratious slow to anger and abounding in goodnesse and truth reseruing mercie for thousands forgiuing iniquities transgressions and sinnes making the wicked innocent if they will repent with all their whole harts and returne vnto thée Thou visitest the sinnes of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation for as thou art mercifull euen so goeth iustice from thée For thou settest so much store by man that thou hast a regard ouer him and dailie carest for vs O Lord God and makest proofe and triall of him euerie houre beholding those with a fatherlie eie that serue thée in faith and truth Thou hast vsed correction vnto vs but we gathered therby no repentance thou hast corrected vs to the end we should amend but we refused thy fatherlie visitation For those that are thine enimies thou wilt declare thine heauie iudgments against them but thou wilt shew thy fauourable kindnesse towards thy children For thou hast said I wil punish them that serue me otherwise than I haue commanded them not sparing the chéefe that the people may feare and praise my iudgements For to the wicked and carnall man thou appéerest as a flaming fire but vnto them that be drawne with thy holie spirit thou art like a pleasant saphir to be hold Holinesse perteineth vnto thée O Lord GOD and thou O GOD art most holie and nothing vnholie may appéere before thée Therefore whosoeuer commeth vnto thée must be washed from all sinne and corruption And séeing thou gouernest all things by thy prouidence thou wilt put a difference betwéene the godlie and vngodlie Wherefore we humblie beséech thée O Lord GOD lighten our hearts with thy holie spirit that we maie féele thy fauour towards vs as those that be thine elect doo The right hand of thy maiestie is glorious in power Grant vs O God continuallie to depend vpon thy prouidence with patience from daie to daie with full trust in thy promises for our deliuerance For though we prouoke thée iustlie to anger O God yet wilt thou neuer forsake vs. Thou art our Lord almightie Iehouah is thy name which declarest that thou art constant wilt performe thy promise Grant vs grace therefore that we may worship thée aright in the place which thou hast appointed vs for thou O Lord requirest puritie We cannot be thine except our sinnes be purged with the bloud of Iesus Christ by whose grace we may learne to detest all sinne Which grant vs all to doo O Father for Christes sake whose figure we represent on him we laie all our offenses who is able to beare the burthen of them for vs all We present him to thée O Father whom we know both can and will make vs cleane and perfect before thée whose mercies we dailie praise with thée O father and the holie Ghost now and for euer Amen 34. An humblie confession of our sinnes before God as also a petition to haue the same remitted O Lord heare my harty repentance for I am sorrowfull and gréeued with the burthen of my sins the remembrance of them is intollerable Wherefore looke downe vpon me with thy fauourable eies of pittie and behold me which lie here prostrat before the sight of thy maiestie for I confesse that I am waxen old in sin and wickednesse wherin I first was conceiued but now my most hartie desire is to be borne anew and to be graffed in my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ For thus my faith dooth persuade me that none can come too late vnto thée who forgauest the théefe all his wickednesse at his last houre when he asked mercie of thée And manie other more examples I find in my most holie word how mercifull thou hast béene alwaies to those thy seruants that sought the same of thée And shall I then despaire hearing dailie thy voice crie out vnto me saieng Come all ye that are heauie loden and I will ease you Knocke and it is heard aske and it is giuen Who can yet thinke that he shall misse of mercie if he craue it in faith séeing thou art so true and iust in all thy promises Thy creatures faile in their words and works but thou kéepest thy promise and fidelitie and thy word indureth vnremooueable for euer and euer O thou God almightie vnto whom all things are knowen shew on me thy mercie euen in the sight of the children of men that they may knowe and sée how gratious and mercifull thou art vnto those that giue ouer themselues vnto the hands of thy almightie Maiestie Thou art the helper of the forsaken and fréendles and there is none that may be compared vnto thée that art so rich in mercie and louing kindnesse that diddest not spare thine onlie begotten Sonne Iesus Christ to giue him a slaine sacrifice for my sinnes and the sinnes of the whole world but also hast promised that whosoeuer dooth come vnto thée in his name with full assurance in his bloud death and passion shall not onelie receiue remission of all their sinnes and iniquities that euer they haue committed but also inherit the crowne of euerlasting glorie which thou wilt giue vnto all those that be thine elect in Christ Of which number through thy grace I account my selfe for one making me most assured thereof bicause thou hast promised the same Which dooth imbolden me at this present to craue thy most mercifull aid and assisstance of thy holie spirit to strengthen me in faith to confirme me in hope to stablish me in charitie that I may be knowen by thy cognisance and badge to be thy child and faithfull seruant that I may vse the talent which thou hast giuen me to thine honor and glorie and the health of my soule That when it shall please thée to take a reckoning how I haue spent the
when we swarue at anie time out of the right waie by which we iudge that he dooth loue vs for whosoeuer he be that he loueth him he dooth chasten Christs strong shéepheards staffe dooth staie vs when we are weake as a sicke man is by his staffe In Christ thy sonne is the fulnes of grace from whom distilleth all goodnesse that we haue through his holie spirit is our cup filled full of pure liquor it causeth vs for ioie of heauenlie contemplation to forget all the troubles and miseries of the world the dregs of worldlie pleasures and carnall affections For as thy mercie hath gone before vs plentifullie giuing vs aboundance of thy great graces so we trust and doubt not but it will followe vs all the daies of our liues and kéepe vs that we fall not from faith Thou Lord must helpe our house or else we labour in vaine thou must be our beginning and end and then we be sure to dwell in the house of the Lord for euer For we know surelie that if our earthlie mansion wherein we now dwell were dissolued we haue a building ordeined of God an habitation not made with hands but eternallie in heauen where is perpetuall ioie and beatitude world without end Amen 37. A breefe confession that we receiue all goodnes from God ARise vp O Lord God and let thine enimies be scattered before thée and let them that hate thée be brought to confusion Declare O Lord thy might and power for thou art a consuming fire and a gelous God visiting the sinnes of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation For thy gouernement is so iust constant and without change or repentance that thy verie enimies shall be compelled to confesse the same O God almightie thou doost punish thine elect by measure giuest them grace to beare it but to the reprobate it is thy iust vengeance to driue them headlong to all madnesse For thy omnipotencie hath all power in it selfe to execute thy terrible iudgment against obstinate sinners as thou art rich in mercy to comfort them which obeie thy word and loue thée The faithfull in all their aduersities doo knowe that all shall go well with them for GOD will be mercifull and iust and though they want for a time yet thou wilt send them comfort in due season For thy Maiestie is so great that it filleth both heauen and earth and there is no power so high that can let thée when thou wilt deliuer thine The wicked rise vp suddenlie to honour and perish as quicklie but the inheritance of the children of God continueth for euer For thou O GOD wilt take vengance vpon the wicked and measure them according to their dealings Thus thou O God canst plucke backe the bridle of tyrants and deliuer thine owne out of the lions mouth for though the wicked swell neuer so much yet we feare them not They cannot vtterlie destroie vs for thou Lord hast promised to abide with thy faithfull people to the end of the world Thy grace will not leaue vs nor anie that loue thée and serue thée with a faithfull heart Thy fauour O God resteth on thine for thy sonne Iesus Christs sake that from him we might receiue thy blessings For we deserue nothing of our selues but thy wrath and indignation Wherefore grant vs good Lord first to séeke thy glorie and aboue all things reigne thou ouer vs al and let vs render to thée perfect obedience as thine angels doo whom thou hast commanded to take charge of thy children For the which if the wicked despise them thou of thy mercie wilt reuenge their cause for thou wilt preserue the faithful branches of thy vineyard but the rotten stocks wilt thou destroie according to their hypocrisie For there is none like vnto thée in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath Thou dooest blesse the labour of the poore and consumest the goods of them which are negligent bicause they boast and thinke they haue enough The wicked wallow in their riches yet are they but slaues to the godlie that are true professors of the gift of God The cup which thou gauest to the wicked to drinke is much bitter than that thou doost bestow on thine own them thou measurest by mercie the other by iustice And though thou suffer thy children to liue vnder the crosse least they should imbrace wickednesse yet thou wilt not suffer it to rest vpon them that it should driue them from their hope for all thy promises are true Wherefore we are sure of thy helpfull deliuerance séeing the earth and all creatures remaine in that estate wherein thou hast created them much more thy truth indureth constant and vnchangeable Blessed be thou O God of truth and blessed be the glorie of thy holie name world without end Amen Amen 38. A praier wherein is shewed that there is none omnipotent but God alone O Lord GOD almightie it is not in mans power or counsell to hinder that thou hast determined shall come to passe for as the insensible heauen is not subiect to anie alteration and change so shall the truth of thy promises be vnchangeable sith our infirmities cannot in any wise comprehend thée in thy maiestie There is none like thée neither is there anie God besides thée thou killest and giuest life thou woundest and makest whole Wherefore blessed are they that confesse thée and obeie thy word to them thou giuest life and felicitie The ioies that are stedfast and perdurable are giuen of thy goodnesse to those that are méeke and humble in spirit Thou dooest grant to the faithfull of thy goodnesse both grace and glorie so that no good thing shall be withholden from them that liue in thy feare for thou castest awaie none that will séeke thée in righteousnes And though thou suffer the world to hate thine elect it is bicause thy children should forsake the filthines of this world and cleaue vnto thée Wherefore grant vs O Lord that we may alwaies haue the eies of our faith fixed vpon thée for whatsoeuer thou O GOD hast promised shall surelie be performed For as it was thy frée mercie O God that did choose vs so is it thy frée mercie that must saue vs. Thou doost call vs by thy rod to consider the shortnes of our life for our sinnes haue abridged our daies which be not onlie short but miserable bicause we are so sinfull that we doo nothing but prouoke thée to wrath so weake we are so fraile and vnable of our selues to doo that good is inclining alwaies to things forbidden There is nothing so secreatlie doone on earth but thou O God doost sée it who dooest fulfill both heauen and earth Grant vs O Lord alwaies thy feare which shall be a bridle to staie vs from all wickednesse For as thou hast created all people euen so dooest thou gouerne the hearts of all ioining the saluation of thine with thine owne honour so that they cannot perish vnlesse thy glorie should
lead and now beginne to frame a new spirituall godlie life building the house of our soules on the sure rocke which is thy sonne Iesus Christ resting in him as a sure habitation For it is he Lord that thou hast annointed aboue all other to be our mediatour and mercie seat who is so gentle mercifull and louing that he is most readie to receiue vs whensoeuer we come vnto him O glorious God how excellent art thou How noble and manifest be thy works passing farre the capacitie of all thy creatures to comprehend But thou full wiselie hast wrought all things by the same wisedome that hath bin with thée before anie thing was created and before all times by the which thou hast numbred the sands of the sea the drops of raine the daies of time By it hast thou measured the height of heauen the breadth of the earth and the déepenesse of the sea This wisedome is thy verie sonne our Lord and Sauiour the second person in Trinitie he is the power in whom are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge By him hast thou wrought the worke of our redemption and deliuered vs from eternall damnation And although thou be sometimes angrie with vs for our wickednes yet neuerthelesse if we call vpon thée in thy sons name thou wilt shew vs mercie for it is thy nature and his to be mercifull Lord kéepe our enimie farre from vs let him not deuoure those for whose redemption and saluation thou vouchsafedst to send thy most entirelie beloued son to suffer death and passion Bring them also we humblie beséech thée into the true faith of thy holie church that they may knowe thée and him whom thou hast sent for the saluation of the world that there may be on both sorts one shéepheard and one flocke Send vs all most mercifull father thy gratious fauor and open thy liberall hand and fill vs all with thy goodnes hide not thy face from vs for our offenses O send forth good Lord thy swéet breath vpon vs make vs new againe that we may leaue our old naughtines and become new creatures We acknowledge our selues to be dust and ashes send therefore thine holie spirit to renew our soules making it conformable to thine image according as thou diddest first create it which through sinne we haue made verie fowle and deformed Then shall we giue glorie vnto thy maiestie which indureth for euer and thy kingdome from one generation to another world without end Amen 47. A praier wherein is shewed how blessed they are that feare the Lord. O Lord Lord thou art a great God mightie in power whom no man may ouercome Let all thy creatures praise thée for thou spakest the word and they were made thou sentest thy spirit and they were created and there is none that may withstand thy voice The mountaines shall remooue from the foundations and the waters shall melt like wax but they that feare thée shall be great with thée in althings For thou dooest abhorre the sacrifice of the vngodlie but the praier of the righteous is acceptable vnto thée and whosoeuer followeth righteousnes him thou dooest loue The feare of thée O Lord God is a well of life and the right waie to auoid the snares of death for thou preseruest the welfare of the godlie and defendest them that walke innocentlie and kéepest them in the right path preseruing still the waie of thy saints and neuer suffering their soules to féele hunger but giuing them long life As for the vngodlie thou puttest him from his desires shortening his yeares with gréefe Lord grant me therefore to put my trust in thée with all my hart that I neuer leane vnto mine owne vnderstanding but in all my waies to haue respect vnto thée so wilt thou order my goings For it is thou O Lord that giuest wisedome out of thy mouth commeth knowledge and vnderstanding O God my father thou art he that hast brought me vp and lead me from my youth therefore of thy mercie haue regard vnto me and kéepe me stedfast in the feare of thée in mine age vntill I depart in peace according to thy word For mine eies doo dailie sée thy saluation which thou hast prepared for all thy people which is thy deare sonne Iesus Christ He is my mercifull mediator aduocate and intercessor by whom I hope to haue pardon of all my sinnes in him I liue mooue and haue my being and after I am dissolued of this my corruptible bodie I beléeue through his mercie to rise againe an incorruptible bodie for that I knowe my redéemer liueth by whom I shall liue and shall sée him face to face not with other eies but with the same eies which I doo now O God my sauiour lift vp with a sorrowfull and repentant heart for my most gréeuous sinnes and iniquities vnto the seat of thy maiestie Beséeching thée O my most swéet Lord Iesus to wash me cleane with thy most pretious blood and make me one with thée as thou and thy heauenlie father art one and as thou ouercamest so grant me to ouercome all the temptations of the diuell that I may be a piller in the temple of my God and sit with thée on thy seat as thou hast promised to all that ouercome the world and die in the faith of thée Thou art the waie the truth and the life No creature commeth to the father but by thée and none can trust in thée except the father drawe him O déere father which art the good husbandman graft me in the true vine thy son O Lord Iesu Christ nourish me a true branch in thée that I may abide euerlastinglie and bring forth much fruit O holy ghost water me with the dew of thy grace that I may be gréene and growe in the loue and fauour of my father and redéemer O thou which art the finger of Gods hand touch my hart and vnlose the same from all blindnesse and hardnesse that I may heare the voice of Gods heauenlie word and bring foorth much fruit vntill I be come vnto my full perfection that I may be worthie to be placed among thy chosen and elect people through the pretious death and blood shedding of Iesus Christ my onelie Lord and sauiour to whom with thée and the father be all honour and glorie now and for euer Amen 48. A praier wherein is shewed that God dwelleth in the harts of the righteous though his seat be in heauen THe mightie power of thy diuine maiestie O Lord of Lords and God of all gods with the plentifull aboundance of thy goodnesse daily declared vnto mankind inforceth me to consider mine owne weakenes and insufficiencie in yeelding to thée anie recompense Thou Lord art omnipotent and madest al things of naught I am thy simple creature made with thy hand and without thy help I am able to doo no good thing Thou art the GOD eternall besides whom there is no god I am a woorme of the vile earth not worthie to